Counting machine



Jun 9, 1942.

G. COBDEN COUNTING MACHINE Filed April 1, 1939 e 35 {3b '35 3M Z35 I as1 54 3+ 1 I II I W I TN E 5 5 JNVENTOR.

-6wkchw 77% W By A TTORNE Y Patented June 9, 1942 UNETED STATES FATENTOFFICE COUNTING MACHINE George Cebden, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 1, 1939, Serial No. 265,409

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a counting machine and is particularlydesigned to be used for counting goods delivered to a laundry for thepurpose of being washed or cleaned such as towels, sheets, pillow cases,etc. The number of pieces are counted when first brought to the laundryso that a correct delivery can be made and a proper charge can be madefor the work done when the goods are returned to the owner. Heretoforesuch goods were counted by an individual picking up each piece anddropping it into another container provided for the purpose, but suchcounting was monotonous and tiresome besides the count thus made mayoften be incorrect. Another manner of counting often resorted to was tohave the individual who was picking up each piece of goods operate alever each time to register the count on a standard counting machine.

By the use of this counting machine the individuals assigned to do thecounting of the goods need not have their mind on the number of goodscounted nor do they have to operate any pull cord or lever. Thus theirmind is free to dwell on other subjects and the work is not monotonousor tiresome. The number of pieces of goods is properly and correctlycounted. The counter may not be close to the person handling the goodsbut may be located in another room and not in view of the operator.

This counting machine consists of a portable frame which is easilyplaced on a box or container ordinarily used in laundries and has arectangular frame the center of which contains a curtain made of thinflexible material. curtain hangs on an upper rod which is adjustablysecured to the upper rail of the frame and has another rod secured toits lower edge. The ends of the lower rod are guided in suitablevertical slots in the upright rails of the frame so that when an objectis thrown against the curtain the lower rod will be lifted. When thelower rod is thus lifted it will make electrical contact between twopoints arranged for the purpose.

These two electrical contacts are arranged in a circuit including asource of electric energy and a solenoid which operates a standardcounter. A further object of this invention is to so arrange a pluralityof electric sockets in and about a laundry so that the electric plug onthe frame above described can be plugged into any one of the numeroussockets and the one counter, which may be in the laundry oflice, willalways be oper ated when a piece of material is thrown against thecurtain above described.

To describe. this invention so that others versed in the art to which itbelongs can make and use the same it is illustrated on the accompanyingsheet of drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a counting machine made in accordancewith this invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same and Fig. 3is a diagrammatical view showing how the laundry counter can be used in.a modified form.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

The device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is designed to be complete in itself,that is, the counter 4, the solenoid 5, and the battery 6 are allmounted on the frame comprising the base '1, side uprights 3, 8, braces9 and the top bar Ii]. The base 7 has depending lugs H at each end toprevent it from moving on a box or similar receptacle. Fig. 3 shows amodification in which the selectrical connections are arranged in suchmanner that the frame base 1 may be placed on any one of a plurality ofreceptacles in different locations of the laundry room and the necessaryelectrical connection made by plugging into any one of the numeroussockets provided for the purpose and the one counter 4 may be located inthe office department or at any distance from the frame base 1.

. The detail construction of the parts may be changed without in theleast departing from the spirit of the invention as described. The topbar H! of the frame is provided with two vertically extending holesthrough which loosely extend the rods 12 having their upper protrudingends threaded to receive the thumb nuts 13, and the lower ends of saidrods [2 are attached to the horizontally extending bar M which supportsthe upper edge of the flexible curtain or sheet I5, and the lower edgeof the curtain I5 has a horizontally extending rod I6 attached to itwhose ends are free to slide vertically in grooves 11 provided in theuprights 8 of the frame. The lower rod l6 may be made sufficiently heavyto at all times hold the curtain l5 taut but in the drawing two lightsprings l8 are connected between the rod i6 and the base 1 for suchpurpose. The central portion of the rod I6 which is made of electricalconducting material is located a short distance below the electricalconductor I9 so that when the rod I 6 is lifted slightly it will makeelectrical contact with the conductor 19, which preferably is made to bea wiping contact.

The space between the rod l6 and the conductor l9 may be varied asdesired by turning the thumb nuts l3 on rods |2 secured to the upper rodM. An electrical conductor 20 extends from the middle portion of rod IEto one pole of the battery 6 and another electrical conductor 2| extendsfrom the contact IE] to one pole of the coil of solenoid 5 and anotherelectrical conductor 22 extends from the other pole of the coil ofsolenoid 5 to the other pole of the battery 6, The core 23 of solenoid 5is free to slide vertically and is connected by rod 24 to the free endof the operating lever 25 of the counter 4. Thus every time anelectrical contact is made between rod l6 and electrical conductor l9the operating lever 25 of the counter 4 will be lifted.

In operation the laundry counter is positioned above a receptacle byplacing the base on same spanning the open top of the receptacle and thedepending lugs M will retain the base in proper position. The operatorpicks up the pieces of laundry or goods to be counted one by one andthrows each piece against the curtain l5 from whence each piece willdrop by force of gravity into the receptacle. As each piece hits orstrikes against the curtain |5 it will be moved sufficiently out of itsvertical positionlto lift the rod |6 into contact with the conductor 9and this will cause the electrical current to energize the solenoid 5and tally one on the counter 4 as above described. Thus each piece ofgoods will be registered on the counter 4 without in any way requiringthe operator to give any attention to same, and no confusion can occurin the count although the operator may leave her position for a time,and no pencil or paper is required.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the two wires of a light circuitare shown at 26 and 21,

these are connected by wires 28 and 29 to bindingposts of a transformer30, and other two wires 3| and 32 are connected to other binding postsof said transformer 30 to secure the proper low voltage in wires 3| and32 to operate the solenoid 5. The wire 3| forms electrical connectionbetween the transformer 33 and the coil of solenoid 5 and another wire33 is connected to the other end of the coil of solenoid 5 so that it isonly necessary to make electrical connection between wires .32 and 33 toenergize the coil of solenoid 5. The wires 32 and 33, preferably in asingle cable, are strung about the laundry wherever any goods may bedesired to be counted. At the desired locations about the laundry wallplugs 34 are secured and each wall plug is connected by wires 35 and 36to the wires 32 and 33; thus the electrically wired plug 31 which isconnected to the wires 2|] and 2|, above described, can be plugged intoany one of the wall plugs 34 as desired. Any contact made between rod l6and contact I9 will energize the coil of solenoid 5 no matter to whichof the numerous wall plugs 34 the wire plug 31 is connected; theelectric circuit passing from one binding post of the transformer 30,over wire 3|, through the coil of solenoid 5, over wire 33, one of thewires 36, wire 20, rod l6, contact l9, wire 2|, one of the wires 35, andwire 32 back to the other binding post of transformer 30. It will beunderstood that a battery may be substituted for the transformer 30 andthe same operations as above described will take place each time the rodl6 and conductor l9 make electrical contact.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed and desired tobe secured by Letters Patentof the United States is:

The combination in a portable counting machine of a supporting structureformed to fit on the top of a container and including a rectangularframe having a base, two side uprights having vertical slots in theiropposing faces, and a top piece all four rigidly secured together, avertically extending flexible curtain having its upper edge adjustablysecured to the said top piece, means for adjusting the upper edge of thecurtain vertically toward and away from said top piece, said meanscomprising a screw and a nut, a horizontally extending rod secured tothe lower edge of said curtain having its ends slidably fitting into thevertical slots in each side upright whereby flexing of the curtain willcause the said rod to move vertically in the slots, a register and meanscontrolled by the upward movement of said rod for actuating saidregister.

GEORGE COBDEN.

